Luggage tag



May 9, 1967 M. STERN I 3,318,030

LUGGAGE TAG Filed April 26, 1965 AIRLINE #wnvrof MARK STERN UnitedStates Patent 3,318,030 LUGGAGE TAG Mark Stern, Pelham Manor, N.Y.,assignor to Aluminum Development Corporation, Pelham Manor, N.Y. FiledApr. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 450,968 7 Claims. (Cl. 4021) This inventionrelates to a luggage tag. More particularly, this invention relates to anovel luggage tag adapted for use with alternative supporting members.

The present invention is directed to an improved luggage tag that isreadily adapted for use with either a flexible strap or beaded chain.Moreover, the luggage tag of the present invention is speciallyconstructed to enable a tag member to be retained on its supportingstrap even though the clasp for selectively closing the ends of saidstrap is not engaged. This means that the luggage tag can be stored orshipped with the strap clasp unconnected and thereafter removed from itscontainer and quickly attached to the luggage without the timeconsumingnecessity for disengaging the clasp.

It therefore is an object of the present invention to provide a novelluggage tag.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a novelluggage tag for use with alternative supporting members.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a novelluggage tag that is self-supporting on a strap.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a novelmetal luggage tag of anodized aluminum.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in thedrawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood,however, that thi invention is not limited to the precise arrangementsand instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a luggage tag and its supporting strap inaccordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a partial sectional view of the luggage tag shown in FIGURE1 taken along the line 22.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the luggage tag shownin FIGURE 2 taken along the line 33.

FIGURE 4 is a partial plan view showing the luggage tag and a beadedchain.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein like numerals indicatelike elements, there is shown in FIG- URE 1 a luggage tag designatedgenerally as 10. The luggage tag includes a flat rectangular tag member12 which will support identifying indicia. Although the tag member 12may be made out of other materials such as hard rubber, plastic or thelike, it is preferably made of a metal such as aluminum with an anodizedcoating thereon. The use of an anodized aluminum tag member provides anunique combination of permanence for both the tag and its indicia, easeof identification through the use of bright colors, and the appearanceof quality. A strap 16 extends through the slot 14 in the tag member 12.As best seen in FIGURE 3, the slot 14 includes a plurality of enlargedopenings which will be explained in detail below. The ends of the strap16 may be selectively fastened together by the buckle 18. As best shownin FIGURES l and 2, one surface of the strap 16 has been provided with aroughened or regularly pimpled surface 20. The function of this surfacewill be more fully explained below.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, the slot 14 includes three sections 22, 24and 26 defined by curved portions of the wall of slot 14; As shown, thesections 22, 24 and 26 define portions of increased width in the slot.Moreover, the section 24 is larger than the sections 22 and I 26. Asshown in FIGURE 4, the sections of enlarged width 22, 24 and 26 permit abeaded chain 28 to extend through the slot 14. But for the provision ofsections 22, 24 and 26, the slot 14 would be too narrow to accept thebeaded chain 28 therein. The provision of the larger section 24 permitsthe use of chains having both large and small bead sizes.

As best shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the width of slot 14 between theplanar or straight sections 30 and 32 is slightly less than the overallwidth of strap 16 including the pimpled surface 20. Thus, when the strap16 is inserted into slot 14, the walls of slot 14 adjacent sections 30and 32 compress the pimpled surface 20. The effect is to providesufiicient frictional force between the tag member 12 and strap 16 toretain said strap within slot 14 even though the ends of the straps arenot clasped by buckle 18. The width of slot 14 at the sections 30 and 32is preferably equal to or less than the width of strap 16 by an amountnot exceeding the depth of pimpled surface 20. In the embodiment shown,the width of slot 14 at sections 30 and 32 is less than that of strap 16so that the pimpled surface 20 is slightly compressed or deformed. Ithas been found that the strap 16 when made of a resilient, plasticmaterial has a natural tendency to curve about its longitudinal axis.Accordingly, there is sufficient frictional engagement between thepimpled surface 20 and straight sections 30 and 32 to retain the strapin slot 14 even when the width of such slot is equal to the width ofstrap 16.

The luggage tag 10 may be used by individuals who would have their namesafiixed to the tag member 12 and then attach it to the luggage by use ofthe strap 16 or beaded chain 28 as desired. The tag 10 may alsobe usedby public carriers such as airlines, bus companies, or railroads toidentify luggage. In connection with the use by public carriers, it isdesirable to provide a tag that can be quickly attached by employeesduring the passenger registration process. In using the strap, it hasbeen determined that the time for applying the tag to a piece of luggageis reduced if there is no need to first release the strap clasp.Accordingly, the slot 14 and strap 16 are provided with means forretaining said strap in slot even though ends of straps 16 are notclasped together. In this manner, the tag 10 can be retained in acontainer with the strap 16 fixed in slot 14 and ready for use. Theemployee now need only remove the tag 10 from the container and apply itto the luggage without the necessity of releasing the clasp. Because ofthe retaining function between strap 16 and slot 14, the employee can becertain that each time he reaches into the container, he will remove acomplete tag 10.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and,accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, ratherthan to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of theinvention.

I claim:

1. A luggage tag comprising a fiat tag member for supporting indiciathereon, an elongated slot extending through said member adjacent a sideedge thereof, the walls of said slot including curved portions definingthree sections of increased slot widths, each of said sections ofincreased slot width being defined by a pair of 0pposed arcuate openingsin the walls of said slot, said sections of increased slot width beingspaced apart by opposed substantially straight sections of said slotwall, the middle one of said sections of increased slot width beinglarger than the remaining sections, a flexible supporting member forsaid tag member extending through said slot, and a clasp for selectivelyconnecting the ends of said supporting member.

2. A luggage tag of claim 1 wherein said supporting member is aflattened strap having a buckle mounted on one end thereof.

3. The luggage tag of claim 1 wherein said supporting member is a beadedchain extending through said Wider slot portion.

4. A luggage tag comprising a flat tag member for supporting indicia, anelongated slot extending through said member adjacent one end thereof,the walls of said slot including curved portions defining a section ofincreased slot width, said slot walls including opposed substantiallystraight sections, a flexible supporting member for said tag memberextending through said slot, said supporting member being a flattenedstrap of resilient material, one side of said strap having a pimpledsurface, the width of said slot between said opposed sections beingequal to or less than the width of said strap by an amount not less thanthe height of the pimples on said surface, and a clasp for selectivelyconnecting the ends of said supporting member.

5. The luggage tag of claim 4 wherein said supporting member is a beadedchain extending through a section of increased width.

6. The luggage tag in accordance with claim 4 wherein the walls of saidslot define a plurality of said curved portions.

7. The luggage tag in accordance with claim 4 wherein said tag member ismetal having a coating of anodized aluminum thereon.

References Cited by the Examiner EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

W. I. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner.

1. A LUGGAGE TAG COMPRISING A FLAT TAG MEMBER FOR SUPPORTING INDICIATHEREON, AN ELONGATED SLOT EXTENDING THROUGH SAID MEMBER ADJACENT A SIDEEDGE THEREOF, THE WALLS OF SAID SLOT INCLUDING CURVED PORTIONS DEFININGTHREE SECTIONS OF INCREASED SLOT WIDTHS, EACH OF SAID SECTIONS OFINCREASED SLOT WIDTH BEING DEFINED BY A PAIR OF OPPOSED ARCUATE OPENINGSIN THE WALLS OF SAID SLOT, SAID SECTIONS OF INCREASED SLOT WIDTH BEINGSPACED APART BY